My name is Carlos Vargas and I was born and raised in Barranquilla, Colombia.

I’ve moved around over the years; Austin, Texas; Panama City, Panama; San Jose, Costa Rica; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Albuquerque, New Mexico and now I’m living in Palm Springs, California.

I’ve always been interested in the “mechanical arts” including architecture, automotive and the neon art of vintage signage. Old neon signs are art, pure and simple. Unfortunately, they are being destroyed at an alarming rate. There are places that house, restore, display and honor these magnificent signs. The Neon Museum in Las Vegas, NV, American Sign Museum in Cincinnati, OH, and proudly, MONA, the Museum of Neon Art in Glendale, CA where my fellow Sign Geeks and I were part of the Grand Opening Celebration, where we displayed over a hundred photos of vintage neon signs.

I started taking pictures when I was a teenager. I spent summers in South Beach admiring all the neon on the art deco buildings; then on and off until the last decade. Social media, like Instagram and Facebook, connected me to people and signs from around the world including my Sign Geeks family. Living in New Mexico, where a major section of Route 66 is, presented me with a huge photographic opportunity. I had been to Palm Springs numerous times and finally moved here in September 2018. Palm Springs has a very robust Mid-Century vibe, which is evident in the architecture and cars, add to that palm trees, snowcapped mountains and the movie star history, and you have a magical place with amazing photo prospects.

Photography IS my major passion, obsession and fixation.